Many are not aware of the fact that the HHS OIG boasts having an A-class team that focuses on IT controls and engages in what they refer to as penetration testing or “hacking” into IT systems and networks. With 100 million health care records already compromised and medical records serving as a top target for hackers, healthcare related cybersecurity has become a high priority for the OIG. Health IT offers some unique challenges, in that health records are for a lifetime, whereas credit cards may have a shelf life, if they’re compromised, of just a day or two. This makes them very valuable for criminals that can often realize 60 times more than what a stolen credit card can yield on the dark web. Compromised health information could have wide-ranging consequences, including affecting credit and even someone filing a false tax return with the information. In addition to people’s personal information, there is concern about health care provider and managed care proprietary information.

The OIG IT audits begin with setting an audit objective, which varies according to what they are trying to accomplish. The OIG desires to provide transparent and objective assessments of the security posture of the systems within HHS and those that receive funding from HHS. The OIG engages in penetration testing, as a means to help strengthen IT vulnerabilities. By engaging in penetration testing or “hacking into” IT networks, the OIG is able to provide chief information officers, and sometimes CFOs, with information regarding particular vulnerabilities. Among the common testing of IT systems is determining whether passwords are being changed periodically. The OIG stated guiding philosophy is that “what gets checked gets done.” By identifying vulnerabilities, they draw management attention to addressing them and raising their awareness to cybersecurity.

The OIG wants to ensure that funds for cybersecurity, and ultimate for technology, are being used judiciously, and overall the OIG is working every day to protect sensitive personal and proprietary data. The OIG is using its resources to enhance awareness around cybersecurity. The OIG focuses much of its resources on IT controls for the Medicare enrollment database; however the OIG does not confine its work to the Medicare and Medicaid space. The OIG is also looking at IT security at NIH, Indian health hospitals throughout the country, and FDA information on drugs and medical devices. The OIG typically addresses reports to senior level personnel, such as the CEO and Chief Information Officer, and often addresses reports to state administrators for Medicare and Medicaid.

Richard P. Kusserow served as DHHS Inspector General for 11 years. He currently is CEO of Strategic Management Services, LLC (SM), a firm that has assisted more than 3,000 organizations and entities with compliance related matters. The SM sister company, CRC, provides a wide range of compliance tools including sanction-screening.